Eduardo Rodriguez

Rodriguez again teased top-of-the-rotation skills, but fell short of a breakout season. Unfortunately, if 2018 is going to be the year, he'll have to overcome a late start as he's out until May or Jun...

A spring training knee injury kept Rodriguez on the disabled list to start the season, then his recovery took longer than anyone expected. It took him some time to develop confidence in the knee, and once he did, the left-hander was hit hard, wasn't throwing breaking balls, and experienced yet another bout of pitch-tipping. After spending some time at Triple-A Pawtucket mid-summer eliminating the pitch-tipping, Rodriguez was summoned back to Boston after the All-Star break. In 14 second-half starts, he posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.13 WHIP while striking out 9.15 batters per nine innings. While the overall numbers weren't pretty, overcoming the first-half adversity was a real positive. He's expected to open the season in the rotation, though he tweaked his knee during winter ball and will not pitch again until the spring. Make sure to keep tabs on his availability during drafts, as this was the same knee that delayed his debut last season.

2016

Boston's plan to go with a starting rotation that didn't feature a true "ace" was fraught with problems and those problems showed up early. Starters got hit hard, they weren't going deep into games, and relievers were getting taxed. The organization reached into its minor leagues, where they had three prospect left-handers pitching at Triple-A Pawtucket, including Rodriguez. He got a spot start late in May when Boston went to a temporary six-man rotation and he pitched so well, that he stayed in the rotation for the rest of the season. Rodriguez is poised on the mound, and used an above-average three-pitch mix in allowing just one run in his first three starts. In his fourth start, Rodriguez had problems tipping his pitches - something that recurred a few more times during the season, but overall it was a good first season. He finished up allowing just one earned run in five of his last seven starts. He dislocated his kneecap early in camp, and appears unlikely to make his regular season debut until late April, so he should be slightly discounted on draft day.

2015

Rodriguez entered the 2014 season ranked as a top prospect in the Orioles' organization, so expectations were high when he was Double-A Bowie's Opening Day starter. However, the smooth lefty was roughed up early on and he suffered a sprained knee that kept him out until late May. He had some spotty success after his return, but issued too many walks overall and wasn't getting deep into games. His fortunes changed when he was dealt to Boston for left-handed reliever Andrew Miller. Rodriguez credited advice from Double-A Portland's pitching coach, Bob Kipper, for his strong finish. Kipper encouraged Rodriguez to use his changeup and slider to both sides of the plate as well as administering some mechanical adjustments. The end result was a 3-1 record with a microscopic 0.96 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. The Red Sox may have gotten the steal of the trade deadline, landing a potential ace for a three-month rental on a reliever. Rodriguez should open the 2015 season at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he finished up the 2014 season, pitching one game in the playoffs.

2014

Rodriguez continues to shoot up Baltimore's prospect chart after a year in which he topped out at Double-A as a 20-year-old. He throws three pitches and missed more bats after moving from High-A (7.0 K/9, 2.6 BB/9) to Double-A (8.9 K/9, 3.6 BB/9). The Orioles are stocked with aging pitching prospects and Rodriguez is the only starter who might have a shot of making his MLB debut this season. Look for Rodriguez to begin the season in Double-A Bowie and possibly debut before the end of the season if he continues to pitch well in his ascent through the Orioles' system.